MINIĆ: LACK OF ACTION IN FBiH PUTS BiH AT RISK

BANJA LUKA, JUNE 17 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić said today that Republika Srpska had completed all necessary steps to prevent BiH from being placed on the MONEYVAL grey list, but that citizens are now facing the consequences of inaction by institutions in the Federation of BiH /FBiH/.

Minić noted that the Republika Srpska Ministry of Justice and the Government had fulfilled their obligations long ago, while, according to him, no corresponding measures had been taken in the Federation.

"Everyone will have to bear the consequences because, on an issue as important as combating terrorism financing and money laundering, they have done absolutely nothing", Minić said at a press conference in Banja Luka.

BiH faces the possibility of being placed back on the MONEYVAL grey list on Friday. MONEYVAL is the Council of Europe's monitoring body responsible for assessing systems for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.

Among the main reasons cited for the potential decision are the failure to establish a register of beneficial owners of legal entities in the Federation of BiH and the failure to adopt legislation on the confiscation of illegally acquired assets.